Istanbul Arel University hosted a significant event during the “Earthquake Week,” titled “Earthquake Week: Do Not Take Risks, Take Precautions!” At the panel, Japanese earthquake expert Yoshinori Moriwaki shared remarkable insights regarding the earthquake reality of the Marmara Region and Türkiye.

Istanbul Arel University hosted a significant event as part of Earthquake Week. During the panel “Earthquake Week: Do Not Take Risks, Take Precautions!” Japanese earthquake expert Yoshinori Moriwaki made striking comments on the earthquake situation in the Marmara Region and Türkiye.

The panel began with an opening speech by Dr. Mehdi Öztürk, a faculty member at Istanbul Arel University. He delivered important messages about professional ethics and responsibilities to engineering students. Dr. Öztürk emphasized that urban transformation in a high-risk metropolis like Istanbul and evidence-based engineering are not a choice, but a necessity, stating that engineering is not just a technical field, but also carries life-saving responsibility.

The event, organized by the Building Club, also saw participation from the business world. Okan Hocaoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Hocaoğlu Holding, provided information about seismic isolators, while Faculty of Engineering professors Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Altan and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Palancı made technical evaluations on construction structures.

“Buildings That Collapsed Without Earthquakes”

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Altan, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering (English), emphasized the importance of urban transformation, stating, “Today, we see buildings that collapse without an earthquake. Urban transformation is no longer a choice; it is a necessity for the safety of lives.”

“I Expect a Major Earthquake in Marmara”

During the panel, Yoshinori Moriwaki made a striking comparison by pointing out Türkiye’s location on the earthquake belt, saying, “Türkiye carries a more dangerous earthquake risk than Japan.” He highlighted the seismic risk in the Marmara Region, especially along fault lines near Bandırma, Balıkesir, and Demirköprü, noting that there hasn’t been significant movement in these areas for a long time, which means the risk is accumulating. Moriwaki explained that the tremors in Balıkesir last year were not due to fault movement, but magma-related activity. He added that a major earthquake is still expected along the fault lines in the Sea of Marmara.

“It’s a Good Thing the April 23rd Earthquake Happened”

Moriwaki also discussed the seismic activity off the coast of Silivri, noting that there is a buildup of risk along the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault. He pointed out that a segment extending approximately 150 kilometers from Küçükçekmece to the Yalova-Çınarcık line is waiting to rupture. Regarding the earthquake that occurred on April 23rd, Moriwaki emphasized that such medium-scale tremors are important for releasing some of the accumulated energy, stating, “It’s a good thing the April 23rd earthquake happened.”

Following the event, the university administration issued a message highlighting the critical importance of scientific knowledge in raising earthquake awareness. The message also emphasized that universities are not only educational institutions but also pioneering structures that create societal awareness. Prof. Dr. Özlem Tarı İlgin, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, addressed young engineers, reminding them that engineering requires not only technical competence but also social responsibility and ethical awareness.

During the panel’s Q&A session, students actively participated, asking experts about various topics ranging from urban transformation processes and post-disaster coordination scenarios to improving earthquake resistance in buildings and engineering practices. The future engineers had the opportunity to ask questions directly to experts in the field and gain insights from both the field and the scientific community.